When is the last time you went to the dentist? More than a quarter of all kids and a third of all adults are walking around with untreated cavities. The percent of people with untreated tooth decay is the highest it's been in decades. The scary thing is that tooth decay can lead to more serious health problems that are not related to your mouth. People instinctively fear dentists, but they should be really afraid of what happens when tooth decay goes untreated. Dentists as a whole are free marketers because dental insurance payments are so minimal. They also can raise rates significantly because they're in such short supply. Because of prohibitive costs, only a quarter of people who don't have dental insurance were able to go to a dentist over the course of a year. There is one potential answer to this cost issue. Alaska has a number of licensed dental therapists who can fill cavities and treat tooth decay. They're like medical nurse practitioners for the dental field. There are now over 50 countries in the world where dental therapists do their work and help consumers. When will the American Dental Association get on board and stop blowing off dental therapists? On a related note, The Wall Street Journal recently reported on new ultrasound toothbrush technology that promises wonderful cleanings at home. But the market price is around $169, so Clark will wait until the product becomes a deal.